Mechak a working child.

This is the story of a 12 year old child named Mechak, carrying the cart-man business.

Mechak 12 years old, has worked with his father as a cart-man for over a year, Mechak had to work commanded by his father. He works every day, even on holidays, 6 to 18 hours a day, and he never has a break so as to play or enjoy himself or take a break.

Mechak said: “Every morning at 6 am I’m already on the way to work, it’s been a year since I started work. I do get paid at the end of each month but that money is not enough to support myself.”

After learning about this, I concluded that Mechak was being deprived of his rights, in particular the rights established in article 31 of the “Convention on the Rights of the Child” (CRC) which states that the child has a right to “rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child”.

As a representative of children, I ask to competent authorities (neighbourhood leaders, the Mayor and others) to ensure that this work is not performed by children, and to prevent parents from allowing their children to do this or any other type of work.

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UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. For more information about UNICEF and its work visit www.unicef.org

Axel, 13, is a Young Reporter from Lubumbashi who, in due course, dreams of being a great business manager. Axel, currently in year 3 of Commercial Management, wanted to be a Young Reporter in order to be able to work towards the day when all children’s rights are respected in his country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, so that each child fully enjoys his or her rights.